After settling for short passing routes for most of the first half, the
Wildcats surprised Idaho (0-2) with Marshall going deep to build a 15-0
halftime lead.

The touchdown with 2:05 remaining in the first half was the longest
offensive play in Arizona's history and its fourth longest scoring play.

The Wildcats (2-0) kept the big plays coming as Johnson's 19-yard touchdown
pass to Andrae Thurman in the opening minutes of the third quarter appeared to
put the game away.

Arizona started to take its starters out by early in the fourth quarter with
a 36-7 lead, but Idaho closed it to 36-29 with 52 seconds left when Rossi
Martin scored off a tipped pass from John Welsh from 6 yards out.

The Wildcats ran out the clock to give coach John Mackovic a victory in his
home debut.

Marshall's TD, which made it 15-0, came on an over-the-shoulder catch near
midfield against defender Ighe Evero.

The Wildcats' previous long pass play was a 94-yarder from Bobby Waters to
Alonzo Washington against New Mexico in 1987.

Two of the three longer scoring plays in school history belong to Chris
McAlister, who had 100-yard kickoff returns in 1996 and 1998 against UCLA and
Hawaii. Chuck Cecil had a 100-yard interception return in 1986 against Arizona
State.

The school's record running play is a 96-yarder by Trung Canidate in 1997
against San Diego State.

Johnson finished 20-of-30. He also connected on a 50-yard pass play to Bobby
Wade midway through the second quarter.

Clarence Farmer, who rushed for 118 yards on 18 carries, had scoring runs of
7 and 1 yards for Arizona, while Leo Mills added a 22-yard TD run in the fourth
quarter for a 35-7 lead.